Air fryer Tofu Nuggets

Crispy, flavourful air fryer tofu nuggets with perfectly crunchy coating, tender tofu inside are so easy to make and great as snack or appetiser with dipping sauce. These nuggets are vegan, high protein, made with very little oil and turn out absolutely delicious.

Making snacks like nuggets, cutlets, or fritters, is effortless in air fryer as you don’t have to go through the entire hassle of deep frying and cleaning later. These air-fried tofu nuggets are my family’s favourites these days and whether it is movie night or quick evening snack, they are being made on repeat.

Prepping the tofu: The tofu brand which I am using recommends to boil it in salt water for 3-4 min to make it more porous but if you are short of time, skip this step. Before tearing the tofu, it is always better to press it under some weights to release all the extra moisture from it.

The tofu is marinated with simple salt, black pepper, garlic powder and lemon juice. At this step, you can use other spices also like onion powder, smoked paprika, turmeric or chilli powder. To pack umami flavour, you can add some soy sauce but skip adding salt in that case as soy sauce is already high in sodium.

Batter: Before we coat tofu with breadcrumbs, they need to be dipped in a batter made with cornstarch, plain flour, milk (or plant based milk) and few spices. Instead of water, the milk gives better results as it introduces flavour and little fat in the tofu which in itself is bland. The batter seeps in the tofu, adding flavours to it and also acts as a binder for breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs / Cornflakes: After dipping the tofu pieces in batter, they are tossed in panko breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. I saw some videos, where people are even using crushed potato chips for breading but I have never tried it myself.

Add a little bit of seasoning to breadcrumbs also, as otherwise the outer covering tastes bland. The tofu pieces need to be at least 3/4″ as if they are too small, you will taste more of breading. There needs to be a balance between the two.

Oil: Though we are going to air fry these vegan nuggets, but still you need to spray oil on them to get colour and make them crispy. If you don’t have oil spray, simply dab some oil on them with a silicon brush.

To make them on stovetop, heat 2-3 tbsp oil in a flat pan and add nuggets to it. Cook while turning them in between with kitchen tongs, until they are crispy golden on all sides.

If you are looking for more such simple air fryer snacks, then do check out vegan onion rings,  zucchini fries , rice balls or crispy cauliflower recipes.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Extra Firm Tofu- 200 g (7 oz)
• Salt- 1/2 tsp (to taste)
• Black Pepper (crushed)- 1/2 tsp
• Garlic Powder- 1/8 tsp
• Lemon Juice- 2 tsp
• Oil- For cooking
• For Breading-
  • Panko Breadcrumbs- 3/4 cup
  • Nutritional Yeast- 2 tsp
  • Salt- A big pinch
  • Black Pepper (crushed)- 1/4 tsp
  • Garlic Powder- 1/8 tsp
• For Batter-
  • All Purpose Flour- 1/4 cup
  • Cornstarch- 2 tbsp
  • Milk / Plant Based Milk- 1/3 cup (as required)
  • Garlic Powder- 1/4 tsp
  • Black Pepper (Crushed)- 1/2 tsp
  • Salt- 1/4 tsp (to taste)
  • Paprika- 1/2 tsp
  • Ketchup- 2 tsp
  • Hot Sauce / Sriracha- 3/4 tbsp (to taste)

Notes:

1. Instead of breadcrumbs, you can use crushed cornflakes or mix of (breadcrumbs + cornflakes) as shown in this paneer popcorn recipe.
2. Before using cornflakes, add them to a resealable bag and coarsely crush with rolling pin.

Directions:

Step 1: (optional)
Heat water in a pot. Add salt & tofu to it. Boil for 2-3 minutes and then strain over a colander.

Step 2:
Wrap tofu in kitchen tissues or towel. Place heavy weight on it (like cast iron pan or books). Leave for 15-20 min to remove all extra moisture.

Step 3:
Transfer breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast & seasoning to a bowl. Mix well and keep aside.

Step 4:
Prepare the batter by mixing flour, cornstarch, seasoning and sauces. Add milk gradually while whisking continuously to make smooth lump free batter. Keep aside.

Step 5:
Tear the tofu block in bite-size pieces. Add salt, black pepper, lemon juice & garlic powder (can even add onion powder, paprika, or skip adding salt and instead use 1 tbsp soy sauce). Toss gently.

Step 6:
Add tofu to the batter. Mix gently until all pieces are coated. Lift them one by one with a fork to drip extra batter & transfer to breadcrumb bowl. Roll the tofu piece in it until it is coated from all sides.

Step 7:
Preheat air fryer to 180°C (360°F) for 3-4 min. Brush oil in its basket and transfer breaded tofu pieces in a single layer in it. Spray or dab oil on them.

Step 8:
Air fry at 180°C (360°F) for 12-14 min until the tofu nuggets are crispy golden brown on all sides. Turn over the pieces after half time and spray more oil if required. Serve them hot with mayo, ketchup or any dip of your choice.

Tips:

1. For advance prepping, you can leave the tofu in batter overnight (step 6). This way, in fact it absorbs all the flavour better. Whenever you want to have them, quickly toss them in some breadcrumbs, air fry and enjoy!
2. Seasoning / salt needs to be distributed evenly all 3 layers- tofu, batter and breadcrumbs. Feel free to use any seasoning of your choice.
3. Any left over nuggets can be stored in an airtight container in fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat them in air fryer at 200°C (390°F) for 2-3 minutes.
4. To make recipe gluten free, prepare the batter using only cornstarch and instead of breadcrumbs use cornflakes for coating.

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(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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